R806 - targetting intermediaries

R806
Targeting - XML Protocol must define mechanisms to enable determination of which
message components are eligible for processing by a particular processing
intermediary. Message components must be able to be targeted at one or more
processing intermediaries.

This is murky about whether the targetting is generic to intermediaries, or an
intermediary instruction must be shared among multiple intermediaries, or
whether intermediaries must make themselves known such that they can be
targeted.

If I understand this right, and I am not sure that I do, some suggested
alternate language:

"In cases where intermediaries within a chain are known by a message sender, it
must be possible to target message components at distinct intermediaries within
a chain.  Whether or not intermediaries are known, it must be possible to target
message components at intermediaries rather than endpoints."

There may be intermediaries between the originator and the target intermediary
that have legitimate reasons to hide the target intermediary from the message
originator.  To address this problem I would add:

"In cases where intermediaries within a chain are known by a message sender, and
where intermediaries want to cooperate, it must be possible to target message
components at distinct intermediaries.  Whether or not intermediaries are known,
it must be possible to target message components at intermediaries rather than
endpoints."

One last point: this full definition may be very difficult to implement well.
It may be wise to leave this for a second generation of the spec.

_________
Lucas Gonze
WorldOS Corporation
109 Ainslie Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(917) 805-4391
lucas@worldos.com
www.worldos.com

Received on Wednesday, 15 November 2000 11:22:08 UTC